Services for Network File System Overview

Applies To: Windows Server 2008 R2

Services for Network File System (NFS) provides a file sharing solution for enterprises that have a mixed Windows and UNIX environment. With Services for NFS, you can transfer files between computers running Windows Server 2008 and UNIX operating systems using the NFS protocol.

For more information about Services for NFS, see the Windows Server TechCenter (https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=92798).

What new functionality is provided in Windows Server 2008 R2?

Services for NFS includes the following improvements between Windows Server 2008 and Windows Server 2008 R2:

  • Netgroup support. Services for NFS supports netgroups, which are used to create network-wide named groups of hosts. Netgroups simplify control of user and group login and shell access to remote computers, and enable system administrators to more easily manage NFS access control lists.

  • RPCSEC_GSS support. Services for NFS provides native support for RPCSEC_GSS, which enables applications to take advantage of GSS-API security features.

Note

RPCSEC_GSS support includes authentication and integrity. Privacy is not provided.

  • Using WMI to manage Server for NFS. WMI enables NFS remote management by allowing Web Based Enterprise Management (WBEM) applications to communicate with WMI providers on the local or remote computers to manage WMI objects.

  • Unmapped UNIX User access. An Unmapped UNIX User option is now available for NFS shares. Windows servers can be used for storing NFS data without creating UNIX-to-Windows account mapping. Mapped user accounts will use standard Windows security identifiers (SIDs) and unmapped users will use Custom NFS SIDs.

Note

Although User Name Mapping server functionality does not exist for Windows Server 2008 R2, User Name Mapping client functionality is present. Services for NFS can still retrieve mappings from existing legacy User Name Mapping servers.

Additional references

For more information about Services for NFS, see the following Web site: